Low-quad matrix



May 26, 192 5.

. A. G. TEAsoN ET AL LOW QUADMATRIX Filed-Oct. 51. 1 21 ATTdRNE INVENTOR5;

Patented May 26, 1925.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADAM G. TEASON, ALEXANDER L. RILEY, AND bLIVER C. FORTUNE, OF KANSAS CITY,

MISSOURI.

Low-QUAD MATRIX.

Application filed October 31, 1921. Serial No. 511,673.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ADAM G. TEASON, ALEXANDER L. RILEY. and OLIVER C. Fore TUNE, citizens of the United States, residing atthe city of Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Low-Quad Matrices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is intended for a labor and time-saver in the use of linotype machines for casting in one piece slugs or lines of type-faces, from which is indirectly produced the common readable line in the daily newspapers .or other periodicals or the like. This invention consists of a special matrix devised to he used in connection with such I machine, which machine is otherwise known as a type-casting machine. That part of one of the said slugs or'lines of type that bears no type-faces is like the quads used in monotype typeset-ting, either by hand or by machine. and like the said quads froqucntly projects too high, with the result of making an imprint where none is wanted and thereby spoiling the appearance of the work. v

The present practice is to lower the unused or quad-like part of the line of type or slug by using a saw or routing it out. This is, however, a slow and cumbersome method, and the purpose of this invention is to provide mechanical means and a method for casting such slugs with the said unused or blank part adequately lowered. Being thus cast simultaneously with the formation of the line of type or slug, the said routing or sawing is rendered unnecessary. This is obviously a very great advantage and im-- provement and time and labor saver 1n the use of linotype machines.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which like numbers of reference denote like they occur,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a male matrix;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of'an elonparts wherever.

gated male matrix, which like Figure 1 exhibits and embodies this invention;

F igure 3 illustrates a quad matrix such as heretofore in use;

Figure 4 illustrates a female or type matrix such as now in use;

Figure 5 illustrates this set position;

Figure 6 is a similar View matrix of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a similar vieWb'f the female or type matrix of Figure 4;

Figure 8 shows this invention in connection with the mold;

Figure 9 illustrates the quad matrix of Figure 3 in connection with the mold;

Figure 10 shows the female or type matrix of Figure 4 in connection with the mold;

Figure 11 illustrates a slug or line of invention in the of the quad typefaces where the line is incomplete and this method and embodying the construction that is. the subject-matter of this invention; and t Figure 13 is a view showing the combination of the matrix with the matrix guide and the mold. In the figures in the above-mentioned drawings that illustrate this present invention are Figures 1, 2, 5, 8, and 12. The

other figures in the drawings are included so as to contrast the present practice with this new invention, and thereby to point out what is new in this present invention. All the matrices shown in the drawings in figures other than Figures 2, 11, andj12 represent individual characters, either letters or the likeorspaces. Thus the ma trix shown in Figures 3, 6, and 9'is "the old single-space matrix. The matrix shown in Figures 1, 5, and 8 is the new singlespace matrix of this present invention,

The difference between the device shown in Figure 1 and that. shown in Figure 2 is merely that the latter is longer, the object being to use an elongated male matrix like that shown in Figure 2 instead of a plurality of male matrices like that shown in Figure 1, whenever the line to be filled out is long enough to require filling out more matrix shown in Figure 1.

' for the various sizes of type, b

than the equivalent of a space or two. In other words, the male matrix of this invention will be made and used in different lengths, so that if the skilled compositor perceives that a space will be left at the end of the last line in a paragraph equal, for example, to three times the thickness of the matrix of Figure 1, he sets a matrix like that of Figure 2, havmg dimensions in length of three times the thickness of the He will be provided with an assortment of matrices like that in Figure 2 of various lengths, adapted to suit any space that may be left.

Furthermore, the matrices like those shown in Figures 1 and 2 will be adapted which is meant-that the projection 1 wil be larger or smaller as the case may be, just like as 1n the type 2 the same are larger or smaller. It is to be understood, of course, that the variation in size of type 2 and of the projections 1 does not affect the size of the matrices, as all matrices are of standard size. The only variation in the size of any of the matrices is in the length of the matrix shown in Figure 2, which length arises from the multiplication of the thickness of the matrix of Figure 1.

This invention is intended for use with machines now on the market, substantially the only change necessary being the provision of groove 3 in the back-rail 4, and, of course, the provision of a suitable number of matrices with the projection 1. The matrix of Fi re 1 is like the matrix of Figure 3 with the addition of the projection 1.

The provision of groove 3 allows a matrix like that of Figure 1 or of Figure 2 totravel all the way from the assembler to the mold without other change in the machine. As soon as the matrix of this invention has performed its function, it is automat-ically released into a pan of the first elevator, there ready to be used again. The assembler, conveyor, releasing mechanism, elevator, and magazine are not shown in the drawings, because they do not constitute parts of this present invention but are parts of the well-known machine.

The lowering of the untyped part 5 of the slug 6 is done by hand, and constitutes a second handling thereof in current practice, but this second handling for the purpose of lowering the said part to look like" the face 7 in Figure 12 is by the'present invention eliminated, as with the use of the present inventionthe slug 6 is cast with the lowered face 7, as it appears in Figure 12. This is caused by the way the metal flows intothe mold 8, as shown in Figure 8, the projection 1 in Figure 8 evidently producmg an effect in holding the molten metal the opposite of the effect produced by the female part or type 2 in Figure 10 and, also, a greater elevation (which results in depression of face 7 in Figure 12) than the plain face on the side of the matrix in Figure 9. Otherwise stated, thelowered face 7 on the slug 6 in Figure 12 is caused by the projection of the part 1 of the male matrix of Figures 1 and 2 into the mold 8 in Figure 8.

The rojection 1, as well as matrices to which it is attached, can be made of any material that will withstand the heat of the molten metal.

The groove 3 must be large enough (i. e. wide enough) to accept the largest size of projection 1 used to pass through, the size of the said projection 1 depending upon the size of the type used in casting the accompanying line of type-faces.

Skilled operators are likely to find uses for the device of this invention other than that described herein, such, for instance, as using the same between words or figures as spacers, inasmuch as they will ride any place where they are put in conjunction with the female matrices or will cast an entire slug 6, if enough be put in the assembler to fill the said space.

The projection 1 can be made of any thickness or height, provided that its thickness be not too great to be taken care. of by the mold provided. 'Of course, as mentioned, the mold can be changed when needed in special cases. By the mold is meant the mold on the typecasting machine (not shown in the drawings).

We term the devices of .this invention low quad matrices. Some slight change in the machine and magazine so as to allow the same to be fed automatically from the magazine may be necessary, but none is necessary when the same are inserted by hand, al-

though both time and labor can be saved when the same are used by putting them into the assembler by hand.

The old process of sawing or routing the slugs is accomplished by a circular saw or routing machine and with great labor and requires vast dexterity on the part of the workman, so as not to saw too far or to get the lines transposed from their original position while being handled in this slow and cumbersome manner, as in most cases each slug or line of type must be handled separately and individually at the saw or routing machk Frequently much valuable time is w rsted in the composing room where fall by hand by the compositor it is performed upon a hand slug-cutter designed for that purpose. When this hand cutter is used the blank part of the slug that is the face in Figure 11that part of the slug upon which no typefaces appear, must be completely cut off, which then entails the trouble of the workman piecing together foundry leads and slugs which are manufactured low enough so as to be out of the way ofthe inking rollers of the printing press, because the hand slug-cutter will not perform the same work that the saw or routing machine will, and the foundry leads and slugs must be put in the place of that part of the slug which has been cut off to facilitate a perfect lock-up, which is requisite before being allowed to go to the press. It can readily be seen that a great loss of time is thus caused where several forms per day are handled. Moreover, it frequently hap-' pens that the high face 5 will pass unnoticed by the most watchful compositor and then cause more trouble for the ressman, whose duty it is to print a clean, clear piece :of work regardless of difiiculties. This necessitates his bringing the form back to the stoneman for correction, that is to have the high parts cut away, but sometimes the prcssman will take a common chisel and spend a lot of time hacking at the high parts until, in his judgment, they have been made low enough by this hacking not to show in the printed sheet. If not low enough an ill-looking job of printing is turned out.

Thus it can be seen that a detail so seemingly unimportant as the method now in common use failing to produce a slug with the unused part sufliciently lowered not to be inked by the inking rollers of the press passing over them, is really quite important and expensive.

This invention consists in substituting for the old quadv matrix made to set smoothl against the face of the mold to keep bac the flow of the molten metal, so as not to be i type high, a quad matrix having the pro ']6('tl011 1. extending from the mold edge at the point where the depression appears in the' female matrix which projection 1 is adapted to extend into the slot of the mold of the typecasting machine to any required depth to keep back the flow of the molten met-a1 from the type-high part of the slug to a depth greater than according to present practice with the old quad matrix of Figure 3. By thus keeping back the flow of the molten metal to such greater depth, the lowered face 7 on slug 6 in Figure 12 is produced. This invention, furthermore, consists in the method by which the said result is obtained.-

Having thus described this invention, we hereby reserve the benefit of all changes in form, arrangement, order, or use of parts, as it is evident that many minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the following claims.

\Ve claim:

1. The combination with a mold cavity and a guide groove in horizontal alinement therewith; of a quad matrix consisting of a metallic plate of uniform thickness throughout and having a type mold confronting edge provided intermediate its ends with a lateral projection formed integrally with the matrix and immovable with respect thereto, said projection being adapted to completely fill the width of the mold space of a type mold when the matrix is applied thereto, the guide groove in the mold plate being of greater cross sectional dlmenslons than the intermediate projection whereby said intermediate projection fits freely therein.

2. The combination with a mold cavity and-a guide groove in horizontal alinement there-with; of a quad matrix consisting in a single plate of metal ha-vingall parts in- 'tegral ,therewith and thereby immovable with respect to each other, said plate having one edge constituting a mold confronting edge and provided at its top and bottom corners with lateral projections, said plate having a projection on the. mold confronting edge intermediate the aforesaid lateral pro jections and extending from the body of the matrix a distance substantially equal to said first projections, the width of the intermediate projection being sufficient to completely fill the width of the mold space in a type mold, the guide groove in the mold plate being of greater cross sectional dimensions than the intermediate projection whereby said intermediate projection fits freely therein.

3. The combination with a mold cavity and a guide groove in horizontal alinement therewith: of a quad matrix consisting in a single plate of metal having all parts integral therewith and thereby immovable with respect to each other, said plate having one edge constituting a mold confronting edge and provided at its top and bottom corners with lateral projections, said plate having a projection on the mold confronting edge intermediate the aforesaid lateral pro jections and extending from the body of the matrix a distance substantially equal to said first projections, the width of the intermediate )rojection being suflicient to completely fiil the Width of the mold space in a type mold, one face of said rojection being parallel to the mold con ronting edge of the matrix and being smooth and unbroken throughout, the guide groove in the mold plate being of greater cross sectional dimensions than the intermediate projection whereby said intermediate projection fits freely therein.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aifix our signatures.

ADAM G. TEASON. ALEXANDER L. RILEY. OLIVER C. FORTUNE. 

